Phoenix Sees 2nd Highest Number Of Construction Jobs

By Christina Estes
Published: Monday, November 11, 2019 - 8:31am
Updated: Wednesday, November 13, 2019 - 3:09pm

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Christina Estes/KJZZ
Arizona's construction industry is facing a shortage of skilled workers.

In the past year, the Phoenix area saw the second highest number of new construction jobs in the country, according to an analysis of federal employment data by the Associated General Contractors of America.

The association found only the Dallas metro area hired more workers (15,000) than Valley contractors (12,400) between September 2018 and September 2019.

The other top areas by job numbers are: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, California (10,700 jobs), Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas (7,900) and Nassau County-Suffolk County, N.Y. (7,500 jobs).

The association said employment grew in 68% of metro areas. A survey by the group reported 80% of contractors said hourly craft worker positions are difficult to fill.

The survey found many contractors are increasing pay and benefits and investing in training programs and new technologies. The group wants Congress and the Trump administration to spend more on career and technical education and pass comprehensive immigration reform.

“Our economy will continue to suffer without new measures to attract more people into high-paying construction jobs,” Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer said in a prepared statement. “Construction firms are taking aggressive steps to address labor shortages, but federal officials can help by boosting funding for career and technical education and passing needed immigration reforms.”

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